Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts

ABSTRACT

Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so they may be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft orientation with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include a shaft adapter and a head adapter. The shaft adapter may have an exterior surface extending along a first axis and a bore having a cross-sectional shape along a second axis configured to attach to a shaft member. The second end of the shaft adapter has a cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon. The head adapter has a first end and a second end along a first axis and a bore having a shape of a regular polygon along a second axis that is shaped to receive the second end of the shaft adapter in a plurality of orientations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads. Moreparticularly, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs havingreleasable connections between the golf club head and the shaft andhead/shaft position adjusting features to allow easy interchange ofshafts and heads and to allow easy modification of the head/shaftpositioning properties. Additionally, features of this invention aresimilar in structure and function to features of the invention asdescribed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/774,513filed Jul. 6, 2007 in the names of Gary G. Tavares, et al., whichapplication is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of differentgenders and dramatically different ages and/or skill levels. Golf issomewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collectionsof players can play together in golf events, even in direct competitionwith one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes,in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition.These factors, together with the increased availability of golfprogramming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golfhistory, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golfsuperstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recentyears, both in the United States and across the world.

Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lowertheir golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.”Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to thesedemands, and in recent years, the industry has witnessed dramaticchanges and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range ofdifferent golf ball models now are available, with balls designed tocomplement specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics orpreferences, e.g., with some balls designed to fly farther and/orstraighter; some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories;some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or feel (particularlyaround the greens); some designed for faster or slower swing speeds;etc. A host of swing and/or teaching aids also are available on themarket that promise to help lower one's golf scores.

Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion during play,golf clubs also have been the subject of much technological research andadvancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen dramaticchanges and improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs,shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technologicaladvancements have been made in an effort to better match the variouselements and/or characteristics of the golf club and characteristics ofa golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics(e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurementtechnology, ball spin rates, etc.).

Given the recent advances, there is a vast array of golf club componentparts available to the golfer. For example, club heads are produced by awide variety of manufacturers in a variety of different models.Moreover, the individual club head models may include multiplevariations, such as variations in the loft angle, lie angle, offsetfeatures, weighting characteristics (e.g. draw biased club heads, fadebiased club heads, neutrally weighted club heads, etc.). Additionally,the club heads may be combined with a variety of different shafts, e.g.from different manufacturers; having different stiffnesses, flex points,kick points, or other flexion characteristics, etc.; made from differentmaterials; etc. Between the available variations in shafts and clubheads, there are literally hundreds of different club head/shaftcombinations available to the golfer.

Club fitters and golf professionals can assist in fitting golfers with agolf club head/shaft combination that suits their swing characteristicsand needs. Conventionally, however, golf club heads are permanentlymounted to shafts using cements or adhesives. Therefore, to enable agolfer to test a variety of head/shaft combinations, the club fitter orprofessional must carry a wide selection of permanently mounted golfclub head/shaft combinations (which takes up a considerable amount ofstorage space and inventory costs) or the club fitter or professionalmust build new clubs for the customer as the fitting process continues(which takes a substantial amount of time and inventory costs). Thedisadvantages associated with these conventional options serve to limitthe choices available to the golfer during a fitting session and/orsignificantly increase the expense and length of a session.

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of the invention and variousfeatures of it. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention in any way, but it simply provides a general overview andcontext for the more detailed description that follows.

Aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods for connectinggolf club heads to shafts in a releasable manner so that the club headsand shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the angle and/orposition of the shaft with respect to the club head body (and its ballstriking face) can be readily changed. Golf club head/shaft connectionassemblies in accordance with examples of this invention may include ashaft adapter with an exterior surface having a cross-sectional shape ofa regular polygon and an interior bore provided along an axis offsetfrom the axis of the exterior surface. The shaft adapter is configuredto attach to a shaft member. The shaft adapter according to someexamples of the invention is also configured to securely and releasablyengage a head adapter.

The head adapter includes a bore having the shape of a regular polygonalong an offset axis with respect to the exterior surface of the headadapter. The head adapter is shaped to receive the shaft adapter in aplurality of different orientations. In further embodiments, theinvention comprises a golf club with a club head having a hosel areathat may receive the head adapter as described above in a plurality ofdifferent orientations. Yet in other embodiments, the head adapter maybe formed integral with a hosel area of a club head (as a unitary, onepiece construction). In still yet further embodiments, the golf clubfurther comprises a shaft member, wherein the shaft adapter may beintegrally with the shaft member (as a unitary, one piece construction).

Further aspects of this invention relate to methods of assembling a golfclub. According to one exemplary method, a shaft member is attached tothe shaft adapter having a first end and a second end along a firstaxis, wherein the shaft member is inserted within a bore provided alonga second axis. The method may further comprise inserting the second endof the shaft adapter within a bore of a head adapter, wherein the headadapter comprises a first end and a second end along a first axis andwherein the bore has the cross-sectional shape of a regular polygonalong a second axis that is shaped to receive the second end of theshaft adapter in a plurality of different orientations.

Other methods according to certain embodiments of the invention mayfurther comprise inserting the head adapter into a hosel area of a clubhead. In select embodiments, the head adapter may be inserted into thehosel area in one of a plurality of different orientations. Furthermethods may include removing the shaft adapter from the head adapter andreinserting the second end of the shaft adapter into the bore of thehead adapter in a different orientation and/or removing the head adapterfrom the hosel area of the club head and reinserting the head adapterinto the hosel area of the club head in a different orientation.

Further aspects of the invention relate to marketing, selling,manufacturing, or utilizing one or more components of the golf club as akit. The kit, including at least the shaft adapter and the head adapteras described above, may be associated with instructions for constructinga golf club by choosing between one or more heads, shafts, shaftadapters, grips, head adapters, etc. Furthermore, the shaft and/or theshaft adapter may be angled with respect to the axial direction of theclub head hosel or club head engaging member so as to allow adjustmentof the angle or position of the shaft with respect to the club head(e.g., with respect to its ball striking face). Instructions for makingthe adjustments and/or information detailing the characteristics of theclub in relation to the adjustments may also be provided as part of oneor more kits in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and certainadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdetailed description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 generally illustrates a frontal view of an exemplary golf clubaccording to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example shaft adapteraccording to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example head adapterengaging a shaft adapter according to certain embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an example golf club having a shaftadapter and a head adapter according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the rotation of an example shaft adapter inrelation to a club head according to one embodiment of the invention,and FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate the rotation of an exemplary shaftadapter and an exemplary head adapter in relation to a club head inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a table comprising exemplary information relating to theadjustment of the shaft adapter in relation to the club head accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarilydrawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various example structures in accordancewith the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings,which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrationvarious example connection assemblies, golf club heads, and golf clubstructures in accordance with the invention. Additionally, it is to beunderstood that other specific arrangements of parts and structures maybe utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, whilethe terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “rear,” “side,” “underside,”“overhead,” and the like may be used in this specification to describevarious example features and elements of the invention, these terms areused herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the exampleorientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typicaluse. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring aspecific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in orderto fall within the scope of this invention.

In general, as described above, aspects of this invention relate tosystems and methods for connecting golf club heads to shafts in areleasable manner so that the club heads and shafts can be readilyinterchanged and/or repositioned with respect to one another. Specificexamples of the invention are described in more detail below. The readershould understand that these specific examples are set forth merely toillustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construedas limiting the invention.

A. Examples of Specific Embodiments 1. Exemplary Club Structure

FIG. 1 generally illustrates an exemplary golf club 100 in accordancewith at least some embodiments of the invention. Exemplary club 100includes a club head 102, a releasable club head/shaft connection system104 that connects the club head 102 to a shaft member 106 (which will bedescribed in more detail below), and a grip member 108 engaged with theshaft member 106. While a driver/wood-type golf club head 102 isillustrated in FIG. 1, aspects of this invention may be applied to anytype of club head, including, for example: fairway wood club heads; irontype golf club heads (of any desired loft, e.g. from a 0-iron or 1-ironto a wedge); wood or iron type hybrid golf club heads; putter heads; andthe like. The club heads may be made from suitable materials, insuitable constructions, in suitable manners, as are known and used inthe art, optionally modified (if necessary, e.g., in size, shape, etc.)to accommodate the releasable club head/shaft connection parts.

The various parts of the club head/shaft connection system 104 may bemade from any desired or suitable materials without departing from thisinvention. For example, one or more of the various parts may be madefrom a metal material, including lightweight metals conventionally usedin golf club head constructions, such as aluminum, titanium, magnesium,nickel, alloys of these materials, steel, stainless steel, and the like,optionally anodized finished materials. Alternatively, if desired, oneor more of the various parts of the connection system 104 may be madefrom rigid polymeric materials, such as polymeric materialsconventionally known and used in the golf club industry. The variousparts may be made from the same or different materials without departingfrom this invention. In one specific example, each of the various partswill be made from a 7075 aluminum alloy material having a hard anodizedfinish. The parts may be made in suitable manners as are known and usedin the metal working and/or polymer production arts.

Any desired materials also may be used for the shaft member 106,including suitable materials that are known and used in the art, such assteel, graphite, polymers, composite materials, combinations of thesematerials, etc. Optionally, if necessary or desired, the shaft may bemodified (e.g., in size, shape, etc.) to accommodate the releasable clubhead/shaft connection parts 104. The grip member 108 may be engaged withthe shaft 106 in any desired manner, including in any suitable mannersthat are known and used in the art (e.g., via cements or adhesives, viamechanical connections, etc.). Any desired materials may be used for thegrip member 108, including suitable materials that are known and used inthe art, such as rubber, polymeric materials, cork, rubber or polymericmaterials with cord or other fabric elements embedded therein, cloth orfabric, tape, etc. Optionally, if desired, the grip member 108 (or anysuitable handle member) may be releasably connected to the shaft 106using a releasable connection like releasable connection 104 (examplesof which will be described in more detail below).

The releasable connection 104 between golf club heads and shafts inaccordance with some examples of this invention now will be described inmore detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 6.

2. Exemplary Shaft Adapter

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example shaft adapter202 according to certain embodiments of the invention. The shaft adapter202 may be made from one or more suitable materials as described aboveand may comprise materials that are different than the materialscomprising the remaining sections of the golf club. For example, in oneembodiment, the shaft adapter 202 may comprise or include rubber oranother compressible material that may increase the surface tensionand/or reduce movement between the shaft adapter 202, the shaft member106, and/or the head adapter (302, described below). In yet otherembodiments, rubber and/or other materials may be used to increase shockabsorbency and/or to reduce noise during a ball strike. In yet otherembodiments, the shaft adapter 202 may be constructed from a lightweightmetal, metal alloy, or polymeric material (e.g., a rigid polymericmaterial).

As shown in FIG. 2, shaft adapter 202 has a first end 204 and a secondend 206, wherein the first end 204 is along the same axis 208 as thesecond end 206. The shaft adapter 202 further comprises a bore 210 alonga second axis 212 configured to attach to a shaft member 106 on thesecond axis 212. Thus, the cylindrical exterior of the shaft adapter 202extends in one axial direction (along axis 208) from the first end 204to the second end 206, while the cylindrical bore 210 that receives theshaft member 106 extends in a different axial direction (axis 212).Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate upon review of thisdisclosure that there are various combinations of structural elementsand/or processes that may be used to implement the two axes 208, 212 ofshaft adapter 202. The angular difference between the first axis 208 andthe second axis 212, maybe any angle without departing from thisinvention, e.g., at least 0.25 degrees, at least 0.5 degrees, at least 1degree, at least 2 degrees, at least 2.5 degrees, at least 4 degrees, oreven at least 8 degrees.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the bore 210 has a circularcross-sectional shape, e.g., to receive a conventionally shaped roundshaft. If desired, however, the cross-sectional shape of the bore 210may be, for example, a polygon having any number of sides, such as: 12or fewer sides, 10 or fewer sides, eight or fewer sides, six or fewersides, or even four or fewer sides. The cross-sectional shape of thebore 210 may be configured to have a size and shape adapted to inhibitrotation of the shaft member 106 with respect to the shaft adapter 202.This may be due to the shaft adapter's bore 210 having the same generalpolygon shape as the shaft member 106. Yet in other embodiments, only aportion of the bore 210 engages or mates with the shaft member 106,however, the mating prevents rotation of the shaft adapter 202 withinthe shaft member 106. In some more specific example structures accordingto the invention, a portion of the shaft member 106 will have a squareor rectangular cross section and the bore 210 of the shaft adapter 202will include a multi-sided polygon shaped opening (e.g., with 4, 6, 8,12, or 16 sides) that receives shaft member 106. Alternatively, ifdesired, the shaft adapter 202 may be permanently engaged with the shaftmember 106, e.g., using cements or adhesives, using fusing techniques(such as welding, brazing, or soldering), etc., particularly in examplestructures in which the bore 210 and the shaft member 106 have roundcross-sections.

In some example embodiments, at least one of the bore 210 and/or theshaft member 106 may have a different quantity of “sides” or protrusionsthan the other, however, the cross-sectional shapes of the variousstructures still allow the secure insertion of the shaft member 106within the shaft adapter's bore 210 without allowing the shaft member106 to rotate freely within the bore 210. In one such embodiment, thenumber of “sides” of the either the bore 210 or the shaft member 106 isa multiple of the number of sides on the other. Other suchrotation-inhibiting structures and arrangements also are possiblewithout departing from this invention. For example, either one or bothof the shaft adapter 202 and/or the shaft member 106 may includemechanical structures, such as spring loaded pins or other extendingstructures that extend into openings, slots, or ridges (e.g., akin toattachment of hydraulic hoses to their hydraulic oil supply connectionelements). Detent mechanisms and other physical (and optionally static)securing structures that fit into openings, slots, or ridges also may beused as a releasable rotation-inhibiting connection without departingfrom this invention.

Looking briefly to FIG. 4 (which will be discussed in more detailbelow), the shaft adapter 202 is configured to securely attach to theshaft member 106. The exemplary shaft adapter 202 may be hollow and maybe sized to receive a free end portion of a golf club shaft, such asshaft member 106. Yet in other embodiments, the exemplary shaft adapter202 may be sized to be received within a hollow portion at the free endof a golf club shaft, such as shaft member 106. Those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that the shaft adapter 202 is not required to behollow and may securely attach to a club shaft by any suitable methodsand mechanisms, including for example, e.g., via cements or adhesives;via welding, brazing, soldering, or other fusing techniques; viamechanical connectors; via a friction fit; etc. In some embodiments, theconnection of the shaft adapter 202 to a shaft member 106, may bereleasable, so as to allow shafts to be easily and quickly switched.Yet, in other embodiments, the shaft adapter 202 may be integral to orotherwise permanently affixed to the shaft member 106. As furtherillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the exterior surface of the shaft adapter202 may be a cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon. Thecross-sectional shape may be, for example, a polygon having 16 or fewersides, 12 or fewer sides, 10 or fewer sides, eight or fewer sides, sixor fewer sides, or even four or fewer sides). The cross-sectional shapeof the exterior surface of the shaft adapter is configured to have asize and shape adapted to fit into the head adapter (as described below)and inhibit rotation of the shaft adapter 202 with respect to the headadapter 302.

In some embodiments, the exterior sides of the shaft adapter 202, theshaft member 106 and/or the head adapter (discussed below) may betapered in the axial direction such that the diameter of the componenteither increases or decreases along the axial direction. This featurecan assist in making the shaft adapter 202 easily fit into and slide outof the head adapter and/or avoid the need to maintain extremely stricttolerances in the manufacturing procedures.

3. Exemplary Head Adapter

Exemplary connection 104 may further include a head adapter 302. Lookingto FIG. 3, the head adapter 302 has a first end 304 and a second end306. As seen, the first end 304 is along the same axis (not shown) asthe second end 306. The head adapter 302 further comprises a bore 310along a second axis 312 configured to receive the shaft adapter 202 onthe second axis 312 (in turn the shaft adapter 202 receives shaft member106). Thus, the exterior of the head adapter 302 may extend in one axialdirection from the first end 304 to the second end 306, while the bore310 that receives the shaft adapter 202 extends in a different axialdirection (axis 312). Those skilled in the art will readily appreciateupon review of this disclosure there are various combinations ofstructural elements and/or processes that may be used to implement thetwo axes of head adapter 302 without departing from the scope of theinvention. The angular difference between the first axis (not shown) andthe second axis 312, maybe any angle without departing from thisinvention, e.g., at least 0.25 degrees, at least 0.5 degrees, at least 1degree, at least 2 degrees, at least 2.5 degrees, at least 4 degrees, oreven at least 8 degrees.

The bore 310 of the shaft adapter 302 has the cross-sectional shape of aregular polygon. The cross-sectional shape may be, for example, apolygon having 12 or fewer sides, 10 or fewer sides, eight or fewersides, six or fewer sides, or even four or fewer sides). Thecross-sectional shape of the bore 310 is configured to have a size andshape adapted to inhibit rotation of the shaft adapter 202 with respectto the head adapter 302. This may be due to the head adapter's bore 310having the same general polygon shape as the exterior surface of theshaft adapter 202, as described above. Yet in other embodiments, only aportion of the bore 310 engages or mates with the shaft adapter 202,however, the mating prevents rotation of the shaft adapter 202 withinthe head adapter 302. In some more specific example structures accordingto the invention, the shaft adapter 202 will have a square orrectangular cross section and the bore 310 of the head adapter 302 willinclude a multi-sided polygon shaped opening (e.g., with 4, 8, 12, or 16sides) that receives the shaft adapter 202.

Thus, at least one of the bore 310 and/or the exterior surface of theshaft adapter 202 may have a different quantity of “sides” orprotrusions than the other, however, the cross-sectional shapes of thevarious structures still allow the secure insertion of the shaft adapter202 within the head adapter's bore 310 without allowing the shaftadapter 202 to rotate freely within the bore 310. In one suchembodiment, the number of “sides” of the either the bore 310 or theshaft adapter 202 is a multiple of the number of sides on the other.Other such rotation-inhibiting structures and arrangements also arepossible without departing from this invention. For example, either orboth of the head adapter 302 or the shaft adapter 202 may includemechanical structures, such as spring loaded pins or other extendingstructures that extend into openings, slots, or ridges (e.g., akin toattachment of hydraulic hoses to their hydraulic oil supply connectionelements). Detent mechanisms and other physical (and optionally static)securing structures that fit into openings, slots, or ridges also may beused as a releasable rotation-inhibiting connection without departingfrom this invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft adapter 202 may be configured to fitentirely within the head adapter 302. Yet, in other embodiments, shaftadapter 202 will extend less than 50% of an overall axial length of thehead adapter 302, and it may extend less than 35%, less than 25%, oreven less than 15% of the overall axial length of the head adapter 302.This feature can help keep the overall connection assembly relativelyshort, compact, and lightweight. Alternatively, if desired, a portion ofthe shaft adapter 202 may remain outside the head adapter 302 (andoptionally, the exterior shape of the shaft adapter 202 outside of thehead adapter may be different from the exterior shape of the shaftadapter 202 located within the head adapter). As discussed below inrelation to FIG. 6, the configuration of the shaft adapter 202 and itsarrangement with respect to the club head body may be utilized to adjustvarious positions and/or angles of the ball striking surface of the golfclub head 102 (e.g., lie angle, loft angle, face angle, etc.).

In other embodiments, the exemplary head adapter 302 may be sized to bereceived within a hollow portion, such as the bore 210 of the shaftadapter 202, for example, as described in relation to certainembodiments above where the shaft member 106 fits within the shaftadapter 202. Further, in other embodiments, the head adapter 302 may beintegral to or otherwise permanently affixed to a club head 402, such asbeing received with hosel area 404.

B. Methods of Assembling

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of an exemplary golf club 400according to certain embodiments of the invention. The exploded view ofgolf club 400 also highlights one of the several methods that may beused for constructing golf clubs according to certain aspects of theinvention. According to one exemplary method, the shaft member 106 isattached to the shaft adapter 202 having a first end 204 and a secondend 206 along a first axis 208, wherein the shaft member 106 is insertedwithin a bore 210 extending along a second axis 212 (axis 212 is shownin FIG. 2). The shaft member 106 may be permanently fixed to the shaftadapter 202 (e.g., via cements or adhesives, via fusing techniques(e.g., welding, soldering, or brazing), etc.) or these parts 106 and 202may be releasably connected to one another. The method may furthercomprise inserting the second end 206 of the shaft adapter 202 within abore 310 of a head adapter 302, wherein the head adapter 302 comprises afirst end 304 and a second end 306 along a first axis 308 and whereinthe bore 310 has the cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon along asecond axis 312 that is shaped to receive the second end 206 of theshaft adapter 202 in a plurality of different orientations. The methodmay further comprise inserting the head adapter 302 into a hosel area404 of a club head 402 (the hosel area 404 may have an internal openingof a polygon shape shaped to receive the exterior surface of the secondend of the shaft adapter 302). In select embodiments, the insertion ofthe head adapter 302 into the hosel area 404 may be selected from aplurality of different orientations, for example, as discussed below inrelation to FIGS. 5A-5D and FIG. 6. Accordingly, further methods mayinclude: removing the shaft adapter 202 from the head adapter 302 andreinserting the second end 206 of the shaft adapter 202 into the bore310 of the head adapter 302 in a different orientation; and/or removingthe head adapter 302 from the hosel area 404 of the club head 402 andreinserting the head adapter 302 into the hosel area 404 of the clubhead 402 in a different orientation.

Exemplary hosel area 404 may comprise an interior chamber or bore forreceiving the head adapter 302. The bore may be machined into the golfclub head 402 during manufacturing of the head. In one embodiment, thehosel area 404 is created by drilling or otherwise excavating a portionof golf club head 402. In this regard, at least a portion of the outerperimeter of the hosel area 404 comprises the same materials as the golfclub head 402. The shaft member 106 may be secured to the club head 402(through the shaft adapter 202 and the head adapter 302) in any desiredmanner, including releasable connection systems that are known and usedin the art. For example, a threaded nut provided on the shaft member 106may engage a threaded portion provided on the hosel. As another example,a threaded bolt may extend through an opening provided in the club head(e.g., in the club head sole) that engages a threaded portion providedin the bottom of the shaft member 106, the shaft adapter 202, and/or thehead adapter 302. Other releasable connection systems, like thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,269 (Bruce D. Burrows) and U.S.Published Patent Appln. No. 2004/0018886 (Bruce D. Burrows) may be usedwithout departing from this invention. These patents are each entirelyincorporated herein by reference.

C. Adjusting the Head Adapter and the Shaft Adapter

Because the axis of the bore 210 in the shaft adapter 202 is offset fromthe axis of the exterior surface of the shaft adapter 202, and becausethe axis of the bore in the head adapter 302 is offset from the axis ofits exterior surface, rotation of either of these adapters with respectto the club head 402 will change the position of the shaft member 106with respect to the ball striking face of the club head. FIGS. 5A-5Deach show a top view of a portion of a golf club according to variousembodiments of the invention where both the shaft adapter 202 and headadapter 302 may be placed in one of several rotational orientations inrelation to club head 402. Specifically, looking to FIG. 5A, shaftmember 106 is securely retained within shaft adapter 202. As seen, shaftadapter 202 has an outer exterior shape of an octagon, which engages andmates with the head adapter 302, which has an octagon-shaped innerperimeter bore for receiving the shaft adapter 202. As discussed above,the shaft adapter 202 and the head adapter 302 are not required to bethe same shape, but rather only required to mate in each other in one ofseveral rotational orientations in relation to one another and/or inrelation to the club head 402, for example, as also described below.

The exemplary shaft adapter 202 of FIGS. 5A-5D comprises indicia 502 andthe exemplary head adapter 302 comprises indicia 504. Indicia 502 onshaft adapter 202 indicates the rotational position of the shaft adapter202 with respect to the head adapter 302, and subsequently the club head402. Indicia 504 on head adapter 302 indicates the rotational positionof the head adapter 302 in relation to the club head 402 and also theshaft adapter 202. The indicia 502, 504 are advantageous to allow usersto better record the club head/shaft orientation and/or to allow areliable return to a previous position after rotation of one or more ofthe components in relation to the shaft member 106 has taken place.Because both the exemplary shaft adapter 202 and the head adapter 302are generally octagon-shaped in this example structure, there are 64rotational orientations they may engage and securely mate in areleasable manner. Therefore, the following discussion will refer to thepositions of the head adapter 202 and the shaft adapter 302 as being ina rotational position ranging from 1 to 8, where position 1 refers towhen the indicia 502, 504 are at the 12 o'clock position in FIG. 5A andthe subsequent positions are consecutively numbered in a clockwisefashion. In yet further embodiments, if desired, club head 106 may bemarked with indicia.

Depending on how the shaft adapter 202 and/or the head adapter 302 arepositioned in relation to the “face” of the club head 102, the playingcharacteristics of the club may be modified. This feature, along withthe releasable connection system 104, allows club fitters (or others) tofreely and easily adjust various angles and/or positions of the shaftmember 106 with respect to the club head 102 (e.g., variable lie, loft,and face angle combinations) while still using the same shaft 106 and/orhead 102, which can help users more easily determine the optimum clubhead/shaft combination and arrangement to suit their needs. Looking toFIG. 5A, indicia 502 indicates that the shaft adapter 202 is in position1, and indicia 504 indicates that the head adapter 302 is also inposition 1. As seen in FIG. 5B, the shaft adapter 202 (and thus theshaft 106) has been rotated to position 2, while the head adapter 302remains in position 1.

Repositioning the shaft adapter 202 in relation to the head adapter 302may be advantageous to adjust the club head/shaft orientation by a knownfactor. For example, information may be associated with the shaftadapter 202 and the head adapter 302 relating to the angle of theoffset-axes of the bores 210, 310. The information may be provided withthe adapters 202, 302, may be printed, engraved, or otherwise marked onthe adapters 202, 302, themselves, or may otherwise be made available.

FIG. 6 provides table 600 which shows exemplary information relating toadjusting the shaft adapter 202 in relation to the club head 402 (whilethe head adapter 302 remains at a constant position with respect to theclub head 402). The information relates to the example embodiment shownin FIG. 3, where both the shaft adapter 202 and the head adapter 302 aregenerally octagon shaped. In the specific embodiment, the shaftadapter's bore 210 is offset at about 2 degrees from center and the headadapter's bore 310 is offset at about 1 degree from center. Table 600shows the changes to the face angle (column 604), lie angle (column606), and the loft (column 608) from rotating the shaft adapter 202 withrespect to the head adapter 302, one-eighth of the full rotation (orabout 45 degrees) in a clock-wise direction. As seen in the first lineof column 602, the shaft adapter 202 is set to position 1 (thus as shownin FIG. 5A, indicia 502 is at the 12 o'clock position). When the shaftadapter 202 and the head adapter 302 are set to position 1 (as shown inFIG. 5A), the face angle and the loft are not changed, however, the lieangle is located at +3 degrees (see line 610 of FIG. 6).

When the shaft adapter 202, however, is set to position 2 (or rotatedabout 45 degrees in the clock-wise direction) and the head adapter 302remains in position 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the face angleis adjusted −0.7 degrees, the lie angle changes to +2.4 degrees, and theloft increases 1.2 degrees (See line 612 of FIG. 6). As shown in theremainder of table 600, the face angle, lie angle, and loft may beadjusted to known quantities by repositioning the shaft adapter 202 inrelation to the head adapter 302. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5C-5D, thehead adapter 302 may also be adjusted, either independently or incombination with the repositioning of the shaft adapter.

In further embodiments, the “sides” of the shaft adapter 202 and/or thehead adapter 302 may include protrusions on the perimeter. For example,the components may have a generally circular shape, however, protrusionsmay be placed or otherwise disposed on the perimeter of the structuresuch as to create substantially the same effect as the “walls.” Indeed,any structures, shapes, extensions or the like whose characteristicsmimic traditional sides are within the scope of the invention and areencompassed within the term “sides” as used herein. In some morespecific exemplary structures according to the invention, the rotationinhibiting structure of the interior chamber will have a square orrectangular cross section. In yet other embodiments, the interiorchamber may be irregularly shaped such that the “sides” are not equal.This may be useful, for example, where it is desirable that a shaft notbe inserted in a manner that would not provide good clubcharacteristics. In one embodiment, there are a plurality of possibleconfigurations that the shaft adapter may be received within the golfclub head, wherein at least one configuration provides different clubcharacteristics than another configuration.

D. Additional Embodiments 1. Generally

The releasable connection assemblies may be provided in any desiredstructures and/or used in any desired manner without departing from theinvention. The clubs with such connection assemblies may be designed foruse by the golfer in play (and optionally, if desired, the golfer mayfreely change shafts, heads, and/or their positioning with respect toone another). As another example, if desired, clubs including releasableconnections in accordance with the invention may be used as club fittingtools and when the desired combination of head, shaft, and positioninghave been determined for a specific golfer, a club builder may use thedetermined information to then produce a final desired golf club productusing suitable (and permanent) mounting techniques (e.g., cements oradhesives). Other variations in the club/shaft connection assembly partsand processes are possible without departing from this invention.

2. Kits

As additional example aspects of this invention, one or more elements orcomponents of a golf club and/or its connection assembly may bemarketed, sold, or utilized as a kit. One such embodiment may include akit comprising a golf club head having an interior chamber configured toreceive an insertable head adapter 302. In yet other embodiments, thehead adapter 302 may be permanently affixed to or otherwise formed as apart of the golf club head. Additionally or alternatively, the kitfurther may include the shaft adapter 202 and/or a shaft member 106.

Kits may be associated with instructions for constructing a golf clubwith the head and choosing between one or more shafts, shaft adapters,and/or other elements to construct a golf club. In certain embodiments,the instructions will describe a method for: inserting a shaft member106 into the bore 210 at the first end 204 of the shaft adapter 202;inserting the second end 206 of the shaft adapter 202 into the bore 310of the head adapter 302 in one of a plurality of different orientations;and/or inserting the head adapter 302 into the hosel area of a club head402, wherein the head adapter 302 may be fit within the hosel area at aplurality of different orientations. In yet further embodiments, the kitmay include information relating to the face angle, lie angle, and loftangle of the club head 402 in relation to the different orientations ofthe shaft adapter 202 and/or the head adapter 302 in the hosel area ofthe club head 402.

A kit may contain one or more shafts, shaft adapters, heads, and/orinstructions depending on the various embodiments. The kits may furthercomprise information relating to the face angle, lie angle, and loftangle of the club head in relation to an orientation of a specific shaftadapter and/or head adapter in the interior chamber of a specific clubhead. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that theinstructions are not required to be printed and remain physicallypresent with the other components of the kit, but rather theinstructions may be provided on a computer-readable medium. Suchinstructions may reside on a server that the user may access. Inaccordance with certain embodiments, the user may be providedinformation, such as a link to an address on the Internet, whichcomprises the instructions, which would fall within the scope ofproviding instructions. Thus, as used herein, providing instructions isnot limited to printed copies that are deliverable with a physicalelement of the golf club.

3. Axial Direction Change Regions

Other structures of the golf club 100 may be used in conjunction withthe connection system 104 described above in connection with FIGS. 2through 6 to further increase the benefits of the disclosed golf club.For example, additional structures may further include an axialdirection change region. Exemplary shafts having one or more directionchange regions are disclosed and described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/774,522 which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.Further, the shaft adapters and/or head adapters described above may beused with other releasable golf club head/shaft connection arrangements,such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,269 (Bruce D. Burrows)and U.S. Published Patent Appln. No. 2004/0018886 (Bruce D. Burrows),each of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. Moreover,various aspects of the invention described above may be used inconnection with other patented, pending, and/or commercially availablereleasable golf club shaft assemblies.

Many variations in the overall structure of the shaft, club head, andclub head/shaft connection assembly are possible without departing fromthis invention. Furthermore, the various steps of the described assemblyprocesses may be altered, changed in order, combined, and/or omittedwithout departing from the invention. Additionally or alternatively, ifdesired, in such structures, the club head can be quickly and easilyexchanged for a different one on the shaft (e.g., a club head ofdifferent loft, lie angle, size, brand, etc.) and/or the shaft can bequickly and easily exchanged for a different one on the club head (e.g.,of different material, of different flex, with different kick pointcharacteristics, etc.).

CONCLUSION

While the invention has been described in detail in terms of specificexamples including presently preferred modes of carrying out theinvention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there arenumerous variations and permutations of the above described systems andmethods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construedbroadly as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A golf club comprising: a shaft adapter having a first end and asecond end along a first axis, the shaft adapter further comprising abore having a cross-sectional shape along a second axis configured toattach to a shaft member on the second axis, and wherein the second endof the shaft adapter is configured to engage a head adapter, and whereinan exterior surface of the second end of the shaft adapter has across-sectional shape of a regular polygon; and a head adapter having afirst end and a second end along a first axis, the head adapter furthercomprising a bore having a shape of a regular polygon along a secondaxis that is shaped to receive the second end of the shaft adapter in aplurality of different orientations, and wherein the second end of thehead adapter is configured to engage a hosel area of a club head or isintegrally formed as part of the hosel area of the club head.
 2. Thegolf club of claim 1, further comprising: a club head having a hoselarea, and wherein the second end of the head adapter may be receivedwithin the hosel area of the club head in a plurality of configurations.3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the head adapter is integrallyformed as part of the hosel area of the club head.
 4. The golf club ofclaim 1, further comprising: a shaft member, wherein the shaft adapteris integrally formed as part of the shaft member or is engaged with theshaft member.
 5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the second axis ofthe shaft adapter is off-set from the first axis of the shaft adapter atabout 1 degree.
 6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the second axis ofthe head adapter is off-set from the first axis of the shaft adapter atabout 2 degrees.
 7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein thecross-sectional shape of the exterior surface of the second end of theshaft adapter has a quantity of sides selected from the group consistingof 4, 8, 10, 12, and 16, and wherein the bore of the head adapter has aquantity of sides selected from the group consisting of 4, 8, 10, 12,and
 16. 8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the shaft adapter isconfigured to securely and releasably engage the head adapter in aplurality of orientations selected from the group consisting of 4, 8,10, 12, and
 16. 9. The golf club of claim 1, wherein at least one of thebore along the second axis of the head adapter or an outer surface ofthe shaft adapter between the first end and the second end is tapered.10. A method for assembling a golf club comprising: attaching a shaftmember to a shaft adapter having a first end and a second end along afirst axis, wherein the shaft member is inserted within a bore definedin the shaft adapter along a second axis, wherein an exterior surface ofthe shaft adapter has a shape of a regular polygon; and inserting thesecond end of the shaft adapter within a bore of a head adapter, whereinthe head adapter comprises a first end and a second end along a firstaxis and wherein the bore has a cross-sectional shape of a regularpolygon along a second axis that is shaped to receive the second end ofthe shaft adapter in a plurality of different orientations
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: inserting the head adapter intoa hosel area of a club head.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein thehead adapter is integrally formed as part of a hosel area of a clubhead.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: removing the shaftadapter from the head adapter and reinserting the second end of theshaft adapter into the bore of the head adapter in a differentorientation.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: removingthe head adapter from the hosel area of the club head and reinsertingthe head adapter into the hosel area of the club head in a differentorientation.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second axis of theshaft adapter is off-set from the first axis of the shaft adapter atabout 1 degree.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second axis ofthe head adapter is off-set from the first axis of the shaft adapter atabout 2 degrees.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the cross-sectionalshape of the second end of the shaft adapter has a quantity of sidesselected from the group consisting of 4, 8, 10, 12, and 16, and whereinthe bore of the head adapter has a quantity of sides selected from thegroup consisting of 4, 8, 10, 12, and
 16. 18. The method of claim 10,wherein the shaft adapter is configured to engage the head adapter in aplurality of configurations selected from the group consisting of 4, 8,10, 12, and
 16. 19. A golf club head and shaft connecting system,comprising: a shaft adapter having a first end and a second end along afirst axis, the shaft adapter further comprising a bore having across-sectional shape along a second axis configured to attach to ashaft member on the second axis, wherein the second end of the shaftadapter is configured to engage a head adapter, and wherein an exteriorsurface of the second end of the shaft adapter has a cross-sectionalshape of a regular polygon; and a head adapter having a first end and asecond end along a first axis, the head adapter further comprising abore having a shape of a regular polygon along a second axis that isshaped to receive the second end of the shaft adapter in a plurality oforientations, and wherein the second end of the head adapter isconfigured to engage a hosel area of a club head.
 20. A golf club headand shaft connecting system of claim 19, further comprising:instructions for instructing a person to perform a method of: insertinga shaft member into the bore at the first end of the shaft adapter; andinserting the second end of the shaft adapter into the bore of the headadapter in one of a plurality of different orientations.
 21. The golfclub head and shaft connecting system of claim 20, further comprising: aclub head having a hosel area with a cross-sectional area of a regularpolygon, and wherein the instructions further instruct a person toperform the method of: inserting the head adapter into the hosel area ofthe club head at one of a plurality of different orientations.
 22. Thegolf club head and shaft connecting system of claim 21, furthercomprising: information relating to a face angle, a lie angle, and aloft angle of the club head in relation to at least one of differentorientations of the shaft adapter and the head adapter with respect toone another or different orientations of the shaft adapter and the headadapter with respect to the hosel area of the club head.